Moderators of the effects of transference interpretations in brief dynamic psychotherapy

Issues and findings in investigating predictors of psychotherapy outcome: Introduction to the special section

“…In contrast to previous findings, Høglend et al (2007) found that patients with more severe interpersonal problems and symptomatology responded better to dynamic therapy that included transference interpretations than to therapy without such interpretations. Similarly, they found that healthier patients tended to have a negative response to transference interpretations.…”

“…Three varieties of patient-based predictors of outcome studies are included in this special section: studies of patient-based pretreatment predictors of treatment outcome (Crits-Christoph et al, 2007;Dinger, Strack, Leichsenring, & Schauenburg, 2007;Halvorsen & Monsen, 2007;Hartman, Wirth, & Zeeck, 2007;Hilsenroth, 2007;Høglend, Johansson, Marble, Bøgwald, & Amlo, 2007;Zuroff et al, 2007); a study of patient-based pretreatment predictors of in-treatment outcome (Comninos & Grenyer, 2007); and a study of patient-based pretreatment predictors of in-treatment process variable alliance (Saatsi, Hardy, & Cahill, 2007).…”

Change in self‐protect ion and symptoms after dynamic psychotherapy: the influence of pretreatment motivation

“…We have reported in three papers from the FEST study (Høglend et al, 2006Høglend Johansson, Marble, Bøgwald, & Amlo, 2007) that, unexpectedly, more vulnerable patients, as well as more current interpersonal problems, sparse social network, and severe initial symptoms, do well with exploratory interventions in the form of transference interpretation while those who are less vulnerable do not. These studies did not consider the effect of motivation.…”

“…He considered high motivation essential for good outcome. Høglend et al (2007) and Ulberg, Johansson, Marble, and Høglend (2009) among others, have pointed out that pretreatment characteristics influencing outcome may be predictors or moderators. Predictors affect strength or direction of treatment response regardless of treatment condition.…”

Therapist technique and patient defensive functioning in ultra‐brief psychodynamic psychotherapy: a lag sequential analysis

“…While they did not fi nd a signifi cant difference in outcome between the two treatment conditions, their fi ndings showed that transference interpretations were more helpful for patients with impaired object relations, while they tended to be somewhat detrimental for patients with mature object relations. In a second study examining possible moderator effects, Høglend, Johansson, Marble, Bogwald, and Amlo (2007) found that patients with more severe symptoms, greater interpersonal problems and poorer quality of life respond better to a dynamic therapy with a moderate level of transference interpretations than to a dynamic therapy without such interpretations.…”